(Lost in) Space Derby

So Friday was another Cub Scout Derby. You may recall our Pinewood Derby of yesteryear. It was disastrous, to say the least. This year, rather than a pinewood derby, it was a space derby. I had no idea such a thing existed. But it does. Oh, it does.

Rather than making a car, you make a shuttle that is attached to a line and propelled by wound rubber bands. Perfect, right?! No wheels to lubricate! No weight restrictions! Just a few rubber bands! Easy peasy. What could possibly go wrong?!

Everything. That's what could go wrong.

Again, the night ended in tears. Again, VidKid's creation was one of the slowest in the bunch--not even making it to the end of the line on most races. Again, I cast looks of bewilderment at Hamburglar wondering how he could let VidKid down--me down---again. Where's the family pride? He is destroying the family name! Hamburglar's a handy guy. He's good with tools. He can create and do handyman stuff around the house. What is this derby curse that follows us?

I joke with one of my Sarah friends that her hobby is winning. She likes to win in her free time. I'd really like to make that my hobby too. How do I make winning my new hobby when my kid keeps losing?!

I guess I will take some comfort in knowing that VidKid's shuttle wasn't THE slowest in the bunch. So we moved up a spot in the Cub Scout derby rankings. Up from last place to second-to-last place. So we've got that going for us. At this rate, we'll be right in the middle of the pack--celebrating mediocrity at its finest by the time he's 11 and ready to leave Cub Scouts.

Granted, VidKid obviously needs to gain some perspective and learn to have better sportsmanship. But obviously his father needs to take a class or something. Do they offer such a thing? Maybe I just need to take over this whole derby thing. Cuz it sure as aitch can't get any worse.